A Quest for 35mpg (Subaru Outback Limited Sedan 2.5L auto)

[Zerohour]

A couple of update pictures:

Trans Mount insert

Skirt Recon


Front Wheel Deflectors, yes thats paint!

Triumph Air Box

[Zerohour]

Sometimes you just need to do it right...

...Front Air Deflects are still drying. It wasn't quite warm enough, and we had a spurt of rain. Should be ready to installed in a few days. I would like to let them dry and give them a light polish and a coat of wax before installation.

...Wheel skirts are ever so closer...but I really thought I was done with the fiberglass. Unfortunately I'm just not Happy or comfortable installing the one side yet. It has developed bow in the shape. So I have pinned it flat using weights and are working on building a structural webbing beside the skirt. The surfaces are 95% done. Just a few touch up spots before paint.

...Since it rained I didn't pull the car in to change the oil. I'll have to see how it is tomorrow. Might change it tomorrow night after it cools down after the return commute from work. I almost bought the full synthetic oil except they did not have the Bosch Long Distance filter for a Subaru, so I couldn't get it on combo price. As much as I would have liked to use full Synthetic, but an additional $18 when the Synthetic blend and filter is only $19 just wasn't justified. I'm not sure if I want to try to run full synthetic for a distance considering even 6K miles would put me into ~late January or Early February. I'm not sure if I want to through through all the cold starts on question change in oil. The synthetic blend has 3,600 miles on it, and on visual/smell inspection needs to be changed.

...Trans mount goes in AFTER the wheel skirts are done. A little motivator to get it done.

...Birthday Present arrives Tuesday...that waits till after the wheel skirts as well.

...Triumph Air Box needs the metal plate to work on the next step in the process.

[Zerohour]

ARGH!!!! So close to paint.

[Zerohour]

Primer. I used some.

While it dries I'm gonna Rida Ma Dinasaur!

[Zerohour]

HUGE PROGRESS DAY! Since no one can decide WTH is going on and when at work, I had today off instead of Friday...needless to say, got to the busy work and made alot of progress even though I has interfered with other plans.

Today's Done List:
-Morning errands (Food, Bank, Gas, etc)
-Drove the Ford because its been sitting for over a week.
-Ran the TR7 because I like to make noise
-Scuffed, Rinsed, Dried, Primer Sealer Sprayed both wheel skirts
-Oil Changed
-Front air dam for front tires were polished, waxed, and installed
-Air intake was retro-fitted to original modified version with a slight alteration (warm air instead of cold, still needs lower splash shield)
-Rallitek 22mm Rear Sway Bar installed
-Test Drove

Huge, huge day, uploading pictures soon.
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[evilskillit]

Neat, btw whats the fiberglass box with nozzles on it for?

[Zerohour]

[Zerohour]

Still not entirely happy with these, but they are finally installed. They should provide small gains.

[Zerohour]

*Blue wireloom is vacuum gauge nylon hose. It's zip-tied to a metal rod to hold shape.

Original Intake:



Modified:
Trimmed Internal Structure

modified foam ring from an old OEM air filter


Assembled:


Has anti rain and snow flap from original modded intake. I did not install factory snorkel this time around. This will help draw in more warm air. It still needs a lower splash guard. The original modded intake has a semi-full box which protected from underchassis splashes, but it currently is left open. I'll address that this weekend.

[Zerohour]

Rallitek 22mm Rear Sway bar (factory is 13mm rear, 18mm front = absurd understeer)